Tag Archives: Richard Morrissette

The Oklahoma Insurance Department spent more than $180,000 on high-tech shotguns, bulletproof vests and seven police-package vehicles that agency officials say were needed as part of its expanded focus on criminal insurance fraud.

But the purchases have raised eyebrows among some lawmakers who question why the agency’s nine-member anti-fraud unit — which primarily investigates white-collar crimes — needs equipment typically used by police officers and SWAT teams.

“I don’t think Oklahomans as a whole are going to relish the day when their neighborhood is full of official police-package insurance department police cars as they’re executing an arrest on a guy who did a fraudulent insurance claim,” said Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie . . . “For the life of me, I never could come to grasp with why the Insurance Department couldn’t take a local sheriff’s deputy, or someone responsible to the local community, with them when they do these arrests,” he said.

According to Insurance Department records, the agency this year purchased five 2012 Dodge Chargers for $23,590 each and two 2013 Chevrolet Tahoes for $26,505 apiece, each outfitted with police packages that include stiffer suspensions and wiring for additional communications equipment.

Oklahoma HJR 1003 Claiming Sovereignty under the 10th Amendment was heard Wednesday, February 11, 2009 and passed out of Committee unanimously.

Call legislatores and thank them for their support.

The Rules Committee of the Oklahoma House of Representatives met late in the afternoon Wednesday, February 11, 2009 in Room 412-C at the Capitol, after being delayed by action on the House floor.

Both Room 412-C and the overflow room next door were filled to capacity with citizens anxious to support Representative Charles Key’s bill HJR 1003, known as the 10th Amendment bill.

The 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states:
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Oklahoma HJR 1003 declares, in part:
“THAT this serve as Notice and Demand to the federal government, as our agent, to cease and desist, effective immediately, mandates that are beyond the scope of these constitutionally delegated powers. THAT all compulsory federal legislation which directs states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties or sanctions or requires states to pass legislation or lose federal funding be prohibited or repealed.”

The 12-member Rules committee, after some discussion, passed HJR 1003 12-0. The overflow room burst into applause and gave the legislators a standing ovation.

Oklahoma is looked to as a leader in state’s rights. Moving HJR 1003 out of committee is the first step in keeping this legislation alive.

Continued support for both HJR 1003 and the Senate version, SJR 10 by Senator Randy Brogdon, will be crucial as these bills work their way through the legislative process.

Please call and email Rules Committee Chairman Representative Gus Blackwell and the other committee members to thank them for supporting HJR 1003 and ask them to continue their support going forward.

‘m sending a Thank You to the House Rules Committee for unanimously passing HJR 1003 out of committee yesterday.